Assigistoe to



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. A. JACKSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM. No. 308,165. Patented Nov. 18. 1884.

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London.

N. PETERS. Phulo-Lilbugmpher. Wzuhinglofl. D. Q

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. A. JACKSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

No. 308,165. Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 3.

U. A. JACKSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

No. 308,165. Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

i" af W (N0 Model-J 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. A. JACKSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM,

No. 308,165. gatented Nov. 18. 1884.

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5 sneak sheet 5.

(No Model.)

0. A. JACKSON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

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CHARLES ALMON JACKSON, LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID F. ROBINSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,165, dated November 1 8, 1884.

Application filed November 28, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom; it may concern:

Be it known that LGHARLES ALMON J ACK- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in IO the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Thisinvention relatesto telephonic circuits whereby the time now consumed in waiting for an opportunity to call up any given subscriber is economized and the necessity of a central office, so called, is avoided.

The invention is an improvement upon or extension of a system shown and described in application for a patent filed by myself on the 17th day of September, 1883, in which I discard the central office, as before stated, and in lieu of the ordinary circuits having their termini massed in such office, I employ a num ber of closed circuits sufficient to enable any subscriber under ordinary circumstances to find some one of them un0ccupied,o'r to greatly o multiply the chances of his thus finding one,

and I run the entire series of these wires through each subscribers instrument, and in which, moreover, I furnish to each subscriber an adjustable or movable switch-board carrying a wire in which is included a receiver and transmitter, and whose ends are connected with conductors secured to such switch-board,

these conductors being so arranged as to close the circuit through the wirewhen the line is 0 broken, thereby enabling any subscriber to put himself in communication with and operate over any oircuit-wire.

The objects of my present improvements are,

first, to enable a subscriber on any one telephonic circuit to communicate directly with any subscriber upon any line with which his instrument connectsfor instance, in a different city secondly, to enable two or more subscribers whose lines run through the switchboard to communicate with two or more other subscribers from their own instrument at the same time without conflicting with each other; thirdly, to combine in one instrument means for' enabling these two objects to be carried out, and also for carrying out the invention 5 herein first premisedthat is, to enable any subscriber to put himself or his instrument directly in communication with a subscriber on any other line of the system.

The drawings accompanying this speoification represent in Figure l a plan, and in Fig. 2 a cross-section, of a device containing my in v'ention. Fig. 3 is a bot-tom view of the switch-board. Figs. 4 and 5 represent plans of the registering or calling mechanism in different subscribers offices, showing the secondarycircuit to enable a certain subscriber to be called, and further the main current through said machine both for calling and establishing a circuit for talking. Fig. 6 is a front View of the dial-plate. Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the indicating devices; Fig.

8, a rear perspective view of the registering mechanism 5 Fig. 9 is a diagram of the entire system. I

In said drawings, Ais a tablet, upon the top of which are placed a number of keys, B B B, &c., arranged in a straight row and parallel to each other, the number of these keys being determined by the extent of business carried on in any particular locality or localities. In the present instance I have shown eight keys, each of which is composed of two platesprings,

a b, of conducting metal, the free end of one (for instance, a) resting upon the free end of 8 5 the other, 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

C .C C C, 820., represents a series of telephonic circuit-wires, each operated by a battery and connected with a return wire or wires, D thereby closing the circuit by the insertion of plugs connected with the latter wire into ports upon the main lines 0 C C, &c.' each wire being intercepted by a key, B, as shown. Where the two portions (1 b of a key are separated, the circuit through the wire C 5 is broken, and vice versa.

D represents a switchboard disposed above the range of keys B B, &c., and supported upon horizontal parallel rods E E in manner to slide upon the latter transversely of the said range of keys, said switch-board preferably carrying a'pointer, F, to enable it to be readily adjusted in position over any given[ key. The switch-board D is composed of hard rubber or other material adapted to insulate it from its supportingrods E E.

G in the drawings represents a wire, the two ends, 0 d, of which pass down through the switch-board, the end a being connected to a contact-point or conductor, f, in the .form of a knob secured to and depending from the under side of said switch-board. The end (I of the wire G connects with a contact-point, (1, extending upward through the switchboard. Included in the wire G are a receiver, H, and transmitter I.

e in the drawings represents a second contact-point in the form of a knob carried by and depending from the under side of the switch-board D, this rod being connected by a conducting metal plate, j, with a second contact-point, k, extending through the switchboard. The two knobs e f are so arranged to the keys B B, &c.that is, one below the other-as, when passing over any one of said keys, to separate the two parts of the latter and break the circuit through the wire 0 direct and re-establish such circuit through the wire G, thereby putting the receiver and transmitter contained in such wire in communication through such wire 0.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the knob f extends below the knob e, and operates and serves to depress the lower leaf, 1), of any key, while the knob e operates with the upper leaf, (1, of any key. When the switch-board is moved over any one key, the knob e bears upon and establishes communication with the upper portion, a, of said key, while the knob f bears upon and establishes communication with the lower portion, 12, of such key, at the same time separating the two leaves by pushing down I), and thereby breaking the circuit through such key.

P represents a vibratory arm, of conducting metal, pivoted at its base to the contact-point d. The free end of the arm P is adapted to be swung into contact with the point k, or a point, K, to be explained.

J in the drawings represents a wire, one end of which is connected with a third contact-point or conductor, K, secured to the top of the switch-board, the opposite end of this wire carrying, for convenience in use, a plug adapted to be inserted in a socket, z, in the top of either screw-post M, which is connectod with one end of each key B.

To more fully describe the operation of this switch-board and the system connected therewith, I will suppose the board D (see Figs. 1 and 2) resting with its pointer F upon the key I), while the key P is upon the contact-point 7c. The current is along leaf a to knob e, to button k, along key P, contact-point d, and from the point d to the wire G, through the transmitter H and receiver I to the point 0 and knob f, to the leaf 12, corresponding to the leaf a, and out upon the line 0, the situation of the knobs e and f being such that the normal direct current is broken by the separation of the two leaves a I) and the current diverted through the switch-board D and transmitter and receiver connected therewith out upon the same line, the object to be accomplished being simply to enable the person holding the receiver to his ear to find whether the line is occupied without disturbing the conversation or current on that line. If he finds this line C occupied, he shifts his board to another line, still maintaining the key P upon the contact point is. Now, on the other hand, suppose the figure 1 represents a switch-board of a subscriber in London, and he desires to talk with some one on his system in Liverpool, he slides his instrument along, holding the receiver to his car, until he'reaches M and finds line C unoccupied. He at once inserts plug L into M. The current along 0 being as yet uninterrupted, he continues moving his board D until he finds a line, C, unoccupied, when, in order to hold this latter line, he moves the key P to K, when the normal current along wire 0 is broken and a cross-current is established from line C to line 0 which leads to Liverpool. Considering the currents on line C O,

&c., as positive, the current on line D' is negative; hence to close a circuit, Liverpool inserts plug 27 in port 26 on wire 0, and London inserts plug 24 into port 25 on wire 0.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the current can be more clearly and easily followed. From the port MI, plug L inserted therein, it follows the wire J to contact-point K, thence along the key P to contact-point d, to wire 0, which emerges from the rubber plate of the board at d, and through the transmitter H and receiver I to the point 0, to the knob f and leaf 1), to the wire 0, to Liverpool, passing through the latters transmitter and receiver port 26 and plug 27, along the wire D to and returns by plug 24 and port 25 to O. Vhen these two subscribers are through talking, plugs 24 and 27 are removed, the key P thrown back to k, which permits both currents on wires 0 and O to become direct ones, the current on wire 0 passing through the transmitter H and receiver I so long as the pointer F rests over said wire, but otherwise being undisturbed. By this simple device, when a subscriber desires to communicate with an other, he has only to place the arm P in contact with the point and move the switch from one key to another, thereby for the time switching the circuit on some one line 0 through his receiver H, which he holds to his ear, and is thus enabled to ascertain which wire 0 is unoccupied. When an unoccupied wire, 0, is found, the subscriber allows the switch-board to remain over such key, andcan then communicate directly with any subscriber on said line through the transmitter H. As soon as the knobs e f pass by and release the leavesa b, composing the key, the leaves antomatically close and the circuit is re-established direct through the wire 0.

I have described my invention as applied to a telephonic system which necessitates the discarding of a central office and the employment of additional circuit-wires. The principle of my invention, however, is applicable to thepresent system, in which a central office is used, as it will be only necessary in this latter system to mass the wires together at each subscribers instrument -in the manner shown in the drawings, in which the wires 0 O, 850., may be the wires ofthe present sys tem.

In connection with the above improvements in the operation of telephonic circuits, I employ an instrument carrying a dial which contains the numbers of all the subscribers on a given circuit or number of circuits, and an index hand or pointer operating therewith capable of being set to any of said numbers, and when so set of opening communication with the subscriber designated by said number. The construction of this device .is as follows:

A represents a tablet, upon the top of which is arranged an ordinary electric key, A*, and four screw-cups, B C D E. The bridge of the key is shown at F", and the contact-point of such bridge at G Aspring, J is secured at its base to the topof the tablet, the free end of this spring bearing upon the periphery of a toothed wheel, K, of conducting metal secured to a horizontal shalt, L, supported in bearings in upright standards N N, erected upon a base-plate, 0 secured to the tablet, such standards being properly bound together, and, like the baseplate, being composed of conducting metal.

P represents a scape-wheel fixed to the shaft L alongside the wheel K and with the periphery of this wheel operates an escape ment, Q", formed upon one end of ahorizontal escapementlever, R, such lever being pivoted to a post, S, erected upon the base-plate O, and its tail being lifted by a spring, T connected with a post, U erected above the lever.

V represents a horizontal armature secured to the tail of the lever B", such armature operating with a pair of electro-magnetsJV X supported upon the base-plate 0 The battery for operating this instrument is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings at Y. Its negative pole (see Figs. 4 and 6) connects with the screw-cup B, and this cup connects with the key A" by a wire, Z. The contactpoint G of the key-bridge F connects by a wire, a", with magnets XV X. The magnet X is connected by awire, b with the spring J before named. The standard N is connected by a wire, c, with the screw-cup G and thescrewpost G connects with the corresponding post, B on the machine of the next adjoining subscriber on this circuit, and the course of the current through each machine is the same as above described until it reaches the last subscriber on this circuit, where it may be grounded by the wire 1?. The current from the battery Y is continuous, except when one subscriber calls another, in'which case this cursecured to and rotating with the shaft L, be-

fore named. An additional spring, Z is secured at its base to the standard N this spring being situated on the side of the disk'k opposite its mate h, and, like the latter, operates with the contact-pointy of such disk.

0* in the drawings represents a dial-plate secured to the outside of the standard N*, the front end of the shaft L extending through this dial-plate and carrying an index pointer or hand, D, to read the scale F* of divisions upon the face of the dial-plate. This scale is anannular one, extending about the plate near its circumference, such scale consisting of a number of equidistant divisions, each of which is numbered and represents a different subscriber. The .dials of every subscribers instrument are alike, and the hands of all the instruments point to the same division upon the scale,and are constantly in rotation, except when stopped and the current broken by the depression of the spring A when a call is made; but the contact-point of the disk Varies with each subscriber, and is so adjusted that when the hand of any instrument is set to any given subscribers number the contact-point corresponding to his number is embraced by the free ends of the spring h Z". The two circuits are as follows: One, when key A is raised and in contact with the contact-point G is from the negative pole of the battery to post B", thence by wire Z to key A, thence to bridge F through contactpoint G from the bridge by wire a to magnets WV" X from X by wire I) to spring J, from spring J thrOugh scape-wheel P to the shaft L" of such wheel, thence to standard N and from such standard by wire 0' to screw-post 0 and from the latter to the next snbscribers post 13 until finally grounded. \Vhen this circuitis closed, the hands are in constant rotation, as before stated, over the disk. When the key is depressed into contact with the point H the above circuit is broken and the hand stops, and the current from a second battery, 39, enters from the wires upon which are located the transmitter and receiver of the various subscribersnamely, O C, Fig. 1, or D on the diagramth rough the wire (2", (see Fig. 4,) through the individual machine then in circuit, as follows: From the wire d it enters post E to standard N, spring Z", through the conducting-point, hereinafter to be described, on the wheel k thence through it to i, wire ICC 9 post H wire 6, to the bell f which it opcrates, and thence passes along one of the 5 contact with the point G".

4 B on subscriber No. 2.

5 and so on.

wires 0 0 upon the system, as shown in the diagram, by wire D to the battery 39. The current from the'jlbattery Y is continuous when the key A is in its normal position-in The pointer is rotated as follows, it being observed that the free end of the spring J bears upon the point of but one of the teeth of the wheel K and the armature V being raised by its spring T roihence the armature V is attracted and lowered,

and the escapement advances the scape-wheel P and the shaft L a distance corresponding to-onc tooth of such wheel, thereby carrying the tooth which is in contact with the spring past the latter and breaking the circuit. The armature is thus released, and is lifted by its spring, thereby advancing the scape-wheel one tooth and bringing into contact with the spring J the tooth next succeeding the one 20 last in contact with such spring, which again closes the circuit, as before, and lowers the armature a second time, and these movements are repeated in rapid succession, thereby intermittently opening and closing the circuit and rotating the wheel and shaft.

I will now proceed to describe the operation of the machine and system in signaling to some subscriber in the same circuit, which is as follows-subscriber No. 1, say: Fig. 4 represents the machine in his office, provided with a battery, Y which supplies the entire line of subscribers on his circuit. The normal current is from this battery through N, post B wire Z key A, point G", wire a, through W X, wire 7)", spring J, to the standard N, to

wire 0 and thence to the next subscriber, No. 2, where it would enter his machine at the corresponding post, 13%; and I have adapted the following system of lettering: represents 02;- is c on No. 3. In other words, the numerator of the fraction represents the same object or letter for that part throughout the system, while the denominator refers to the subscriber to which that special part or portion of the device on that systern belongs. From part 13% the current follows the same course as above described, and leaves his machine 011 the wire corresponding to wire 0, say 0%- of machine No. 2, to No. 3, If No. 3 is the last subscriber on the line, the current is grounded. The current is normally continuous, as the keys A* A3;- Ag are always in contact with the points G G and through the corresponding wires, a? of all the machines, keeping the hands D D-- D constantly traveling around the dial, except when one of the keys A is depressed, as shown in Fig. 9, and the circuit broken through the wire a which stops the current at that point, and consequently each hand on every dial on that system. If N o. 1 has pressed his key A and broken the current when the hand on his dial is opposite or upon numeral 3 of the same, he understands that a circuit will be established through the machine of No. 3 to ring the bell of the latter, provided he (No. 1) inserts the plug 41 in the socket 40 and subscriber No. 3 inserts his plug 44 in socket 45.

Now I will proceed to Fig. 9 and describe the process when subscriber No. 1 calls up No. 3 and proceeds to establish a circuit for Y continues on uninterruptedly through the several machines of the various subscribers, as above described, and is finally grounded at the end of the system, in this case connecting these subscribers, who may be several miles apart. No. 1, nowdesiring to talk with No. 3, depresses the key A (when the current is broken at that point, as shown) at the moment when the pointer D on his machine is upon the numeral 3, when he knows that he can obtain a current through the machine of subscriber N o. 3 in order to call or ring his bell, as I have previously described. The current on wire D emanates from the battery 39 and returns to the negative pole of said battery by the wire D and each subscriber is connected with that wire or some other which may lead from his office to these subscribers. When No. 1 has broken the current upon wire D he knows the current along wire D will pass rent through the machine of No. 3 is more clearly shown in Fig. 4, to which the following description refers. From (1% it enters the post to the button connecting with standard Ngf, passes through the spring 12 through the conducting-point on the wheel, thence through hi; to 1 3-, wire post D}, wire 6%, to the bell f%, which it operates, and thence passes along the wire D to the battery 39. \Vhen No. 1 has allowed a short time to elapse, sufficient to ring the bell and call No. 3, he inserts the plug 41 into the post 40, and likewise No. 3 hearing his bell ring likewise inserts the plug 44 into post 45. N o. 1, as soon as he inserts his plug 41, releases the spring A, when the circuit D is reestablished and the current from D through the machine of No. 3 is broken. A complete circuit is established,as shown by the double dotted lines, from the receiver I and transmitter H of No. 1 through connections 40 41, along D, by and through connections 44 and 45 of No. 3, and his transmitter H and receiver I, and returns along D" to N0. 1. Upon No. 1 releasing the spring A the current from battery Y is restored, and the dial-hands at once begin moving, which action then permits of No. 2 or some other subscriber, if there are more than three, ringing up some other subscriber.

The switch-board, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is to be used in connection with wires similar to those shown in Fig. 9 at D D. In other words, 0 O 0 represent similar wires, and each wire connecting with three, five, or more subscribers, and there may be fifteen or twenty wires running through each subscribers individual switch-board. In the present example (see Fig. 1) there are eight talking. The current emanating from battery such wires. The object of this board is as follows with reference to Fig. 9: Imagine No. 1 to have rung up No. 3 and is talking with him. The switch-board in Fig. 1 is in the office of No. 2. The latter, not knowing wires D and D arein use, tries to ring up No. in the same system, but finds the wires occupied, and receives no reply, as said wires are short-circuited by and through the connections 40 41 44 45 of subscribers N o. 1 and No. 3. He shifts his board to another set of wires which are similarly connected to those shown in Fig. 9, and it will be readily understood that occupation of lines D D by Nos. 1 and 3 will not prevent another subscriber on that line from ringing up any other subscriber, but they cannot talk on the line occupied by Nos. 1 and 3, but must find some unoccupied wire, and it is for quickness and ease in shifting from one line to another that this switch-board is used, thereby dispensing with the central oflice.

The more fully to explain the operation of my system and the manner of calling up any given subscriber, I have shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings a diagram in which I have grouped a series of dials and pointers and their connections. In this diagram I have used letters of reference with regard to their use on the other figures of the drawings.

I claim- 1. In combination, a series of telephonic closed-circuitwires massed together, each including a circuit-breaking key, a movable switch-board adapted to move fronfone to the other of suchkeys, a conducting-wire with its opposite ends secured to conductors carried by said board, which conductors operate to open the key and break the circuit thereat, and a receiver and transmitter included in the latter wire, and the combination, with said switch-board, of a plug and wire, substantially as described, for connecting it with the circuit-wire to be called upon.

2. In combination, a series of telephonic closed-circuit wires massed together, each including a circuit-breaking key, a movable switch-board adapted to move one or the other of such keys, a conducting-wire with its opposite ends secured to conductors carried by said board, which conductors operate to open the key and break the circuit thereat, and a receiver and transmitter connected with the circuit-wires and carried by the switch-board,and a plug and wire, substantially as described, for connecting it with the circuit-wire to be called upon, and a suitable device for indicating the subscriber thus called.

3. In combination with the wires 0 G, &c., keys B B, &c., switchboard D, its wire G, receiver H, transmitter I, with one end of the wire G- connecting with the knob f, and the other with the contact-point d, and the wire J, with its conducting-knob K, and connected with a contact-point carried by the switchboard.

4. The combination of the. wires 0, keys B B, and switch-board D- with the contactpoints K and is, carried by said board, the central contact-point, d, the arm I, pivoted on said central contact-point and arranged to make contact at'will with either point K or is,

the knobs e and f, attached to the under side of said arm and adapted to come into contact with the two parts of a key and separate them from one another,and the wires 0 and G, connected to the instruments H and I, as stated, the various devices being electrically connected, as described, in order that the moving of arm P from one position to another may break one circuit and open another, substantially as set forth. g

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES ALMON JACKSON.

Witnesses:

Tnos. T. BAILEY, A. F. HAYDEN. 

